Consortial Project 1

Consortial Project 1 investigates human genetic factors involved in resistance to severe malaria in order to better understand why, in regions where people are repeatedly exposed to malaria parasites, some people die from the infection while others survive.

Objectives & Coordination

Investigating the genetic determinants of resistance to malaria

A person’s risk of developing severe malaria is influenced by many different genetic and environmental factors, but we know relatively little about their precise nature and how they interact.

Our primary objective is to better understand the human genetic factors involved in resistance to severe malaria. This information could provide vital clues about molecular mechanisms of protective immunity and host-parasite interactions, as well as accelerate the development of an effective vaccine.

Working with our partner studies to support the necessary clinical research infrastructure to gather standardised samples from many thousands of individuals in several malaria-endemic countries in Africa

Generating a large and unique data resource for case-control and family-based studies of genetic resistance and susceptibility to severe malaria

Developing methods to overcome the unique challenges confronting multi-centre genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Africa, for example higher levels of genetic diversity, ethnic diversity, and population structure in Africa than on other continents

Supporting capacity building for genetic and genomic research amongst scientists in malaria-endemic countries

Sampling locations

Across the different partner studies, samples were collected from 11,890 children and adults with severe P. falciparum malaria and 17,441 healthy controls matched with the cases by ethnic group, providing a unique resource for case-control and family-based studies.

Burkina Faso (BF)

Cameroon (CM)

Ghana (GH)

Kenya (KE)

Malawi (MW)

Mali (ML)

Nigeria (NG)

Papua New Guinea (PG)

Tanzania (TZ)

The Gambia (GM)

Vietnam (VN)

Partner studies

We work with investigators who are pursuing independent partner studies in a number of malaria-endemic countries. Click a link below to learn more about their work.